I love the farm name. I love the history of it, I love the sound of it, and I even love the looks of it. Unfortunately it is not a unique name in the food industry, so it is time that I seriously consider a name change. This is something that I have been putting off because I liked our original name so very much. But, as our farm business grows and we look to expanding this summer and beyond through various sales outlets it is important that we have a name that we are going to stick with and that we can get out in front of our customers and potential customers.
The picture above is a map showing a portion of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. He had the land broken up into six (at least) farms and had a name for each of them. Mansion House Farm is out because of the obvious things (maybe Barn-esque House Farm). Union Farm is out because I just don’t find it very appealing, Dogue (sounds like vogue) Run Farm is out because it is difficult to pronounce, River Farm doesn’t work here, and Little Hunting Creek Farm just seems a bit long.
That leaves Muddy Hole Farm (I would like to know the story behind that name). With our pigs I would say that it fits perfectly! And, can you imagine all the neat little advertising images that we could come up with? But, maybe the name just doesn’t scream “neat little family farm”. Although … it could grow on me …
So, do you have any thoughts on a historically driven farm name? Daniel Webster’s farm was called Elms Farm. Patrick Henry’s first farm was Pine Slash Farm. Any other ideas?
My farm is named MisFits Farm. I wonder who else uses that name?
I think you can keep Stoneyfield Farm, as you tagline makes it unique.
If not, how about finding an old pioneer story from the Knoxville area and see if there is a name in that?
I like the name you have now, but of course I think yogurt first. when you google Stoney it takes you to yogurt or elk in Cananda. So a name like mhf takes you to GW and its history, does your farm have any story that ties to GW or do you just like the history of it? I do love the name muddy hole farm and am curious about the history and the map! my marketing nature starts rolling with all the fun ideas you could do with pigs and that name. I wish we were closer, its hard to find good happy pork in Columbus Ohio!
You said it in your post .
Why not “Neat Little Family Farm” for a name.
After slopping through the mud this winter, I wouldn’t be too enthusiastic towards having Muddy in a farm name.
I think a farm name should be relatively simple, not too ‘cutesy’ or too clever, and should reflect a certain amount of ‘confidence’ and competence (hopefully you understand what I mean).
Start with something simple like Book Family Farms (there is always a history and future to one’s family name).
Then, try describing your farm similar to how Irish or English farms were historically named using Old English (i.e. using the ‘fords’, ‘olt’, ‘ham’, ‘shire’, ‘under’, etc. terms used in Old English to legally describe properties in years past)
Or, use descriptions of your farm that are relatively ‘positive’, like Windy Hill Farm, Tall Grass Hill, etc.
Or, name your farm based on how you would like to see it being in the future, how would you like to see it described if your children or grandchildren were farming?
Or, name it based on how your grandfathers farms looked or they wished their farms had looked, how would you or they have described their farms?
After all that, I actually think something similar to Book Family Farms would be my choice, it shows a certain amount of confidence since you actually put your name on your product and it would easily stand the test of time through future farming generations.
Rich’s was a really helpful comment, hard to follow. I agree Stoneyfield is overused.
I really like the sound of Muddy Hole Farm though. Your blog post already comes up second on google in a Muddy Hole Farm search, so you should be able to get that first spot with a little marketing.
I also like Bookend Farm.
Just a thought, you might want to search domain names to help you decide. We are Becker Farms but beckerfarms.com was taken. beckerfamilyfarms.com was not taken but that was not the name people knew us by. Had we known that in the beginning we might have changed it.
Theodore Roosevelt named his rural house, which had acreage and a farm, Leeholm originally, with Lee being his wife’s maiden name. Later, it became Sagamore Hill.
No real point. Sort of builds on what Rich noted, in a way.
How about “In the Book” Family Farm? (A) represents your name (B) shows confidence (C) play on words… just my two cents.
Good Book Farm?
Old Book Farm?
Book Shire
When my father was younger he dreamed of having livestock even though his operation was (and still is) all grain. Because of this dream he decided to go with a farm name that could easily be branded on livestock. He came up with T-T Farms (pronounced T bar T).
I really like the name Muddy Hole Farm, and I LOVE the photo of the map!
A farm name is so subjective. It really just needs to be a name that “speaks” to YOU!
forensicfarmgirl
http://www.farmfreshforensics.com
I have a farm, called blueberry, his advice to help me better manage my own farm and I’m very new at this
I understand you, I like the farm name too, but Have you thought that maybe a name like that would be a good name, a name people will remember because it is not that formal or common?, think about it!
I personally like the name Muddy Hole Farm. Of course I am biased as I presently own and live on the high part (shown on your map) of Washington’s Muddy Hole Farm. Actually a very nice place to live even this close to Washington DC